Tart and Juicy Something-or-Others

When I moved into my apartment in early August we were in the middle of a perfectly frigid San Francisco summer. I didn't leave the house without at least two thick layers, and I found myself drinking copious amounts of hot tea.

My godmother generously stocked my new abode with a bagful of lemons fresh from her backyard, and this juicer. I had never seen such a thing before (nor had I ever met a juicer I liked), but now that they're part of my kitchen lexicon I see them everywhere, working their magic one citrus at a time.

I take Bikram yoga, which is that crazy yoga practiced by crazy people in a heated room (supposedly 108 degrees is ideal, but I've definitely seen the febrile arm of the thermometer fervently wobbling to the 116 mark). This means I am thirsty, constantly. My favorite instructor in Philly could and would literally read my mind: during one of the more sweltering classes in the dead of a Philadelphia summer (NOT frigid), I had been fantasizing about the extra-tart glass of lemonade I was going to whip up at work as soon as I got out of class (sometimes working in a bar has it's advantages). Leo leaned over and whispered into my teetering bow pose, "Sometimes, I just think, 'Lemonade'."

When I am really thirsty -- and I mean really thirsty -- I crave tart. I'm sure there is a biological explanation for this reaction; in Bikram, the instructors sometimes advise us to squeeze a healthy dose of lemon juice into our water to help the recovery period and expedite the hydration process. For me, lemonade, limeade, kombucha -- even a particularly vinegary vinaigrette will do the trick. Tart: "Sharp or acid in taste"; "Dress or make oneself up in order to look attractive or eye-catching" (there's a third definition related to promiscuity, and a fourth involving pastry shell, but we'll ignore those for the time being). Something about that sharp, biting quality is alluring, even if laced with a hint of severity.

Back in San Francisco, exiting class to a foggy, windy sixty-degree day tended to waylay my cravings for tart, juicy something-or-others. Fortunately our Indian summer has finally made it's much-anticipated entrance, and we are enjoying ideal limeade weather. Hence, today's selection:

Dissolve one heaping teaspoon of honey in a pint glass with a bit of boiling water. Add the juice of three limes, and fill with ice. Top off with water (sparkling or still). Sip, slowly -- if you can gulp it down it isn't tart enough.

Mate Chai, Mate?

I haven't been sleeping much.  I'd like to blame the dramatic move 3,000 miles from my comfort zones and routines, or the sudden onset of piles of homework and a class schedule, or even the stresses related to working 20 hours per week as a massage therapist (which are, in fact, extensive).  And some nights these are the perpetrators, along with whatever other demons choose to drop by for a chat at 3:00am.  

But last night, the culprit was my friend Anna, whose enchanting company is quite nearly eclipsed by her stunning Sapphire-and-tonics-with-limeade.  Tasty, thirst-quenching, and inspiring a pleasant euphoria, I lost count after round three.  

So this morning, when my alarm jostled me out of bed after a brief and fitful nap, my first thought was: coffee.  However, the cafe closest to my bus stop serves slightly stale muddy water in lieu of that finer roasted stimulant: pass.  I considered tea, but that didn't seem quite gutsy enough for the task at hand.  Then I noticed the sign for Guayaki Mate Chai and my decision was made.  

Mate (mah-tay) is a stimulating South American beverage long imbibed to promote health, vitality, and longevity.  With 24 naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and a host of antioxidants, it's definitely got a leg up on a cup o' joe. There seems to be some debate as to the compound that gets the job done -- is it caffeine?  Theobromine?  Mateine?  Whatever it is, claims to increased mental clarity and sustainable energy don't seem far from the mark.  At any rate, it got me through five-and-a-half consecutive hours of deep tissue bodywork.

Mate chai is a liquid spiced tea concentrate made from mate leaves instead of black tea.  Mix 1:1 with the milk or milk-like substance of your choice.  I chose steamed soy milk with no regrets.  The flavor is grassy, roasted, and slightly metallic, in the most compelling and ambrosial way possible.  

As a bonus, it's organic, vegan, and kosher.  It's even said to fight bad breath.  Put down the coffee cup.

Emergency? Emergen-C!

For today's product focus I would like to tout the virtues of my favorite non-alcoholic beverage: Emergen-C. These little drink-mix packets -- available in several delicious (tangerine, cranberry) and a few repulsive (black cherry, tropical) flavors -- support a healthy immune system, provide a nice energy boost, and help replace depleted electrolytes. And it's fizzy -- I definitely have a soft spot for non-soda carbonated beverages. With 1,000mg of low-acidic vitamin C; vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12; and 32 mineral complexes, it's great for athletes, vegetarians, people who work the graveyard shift, small children, unwed mothers, pet owners, shoe salesmen, Hannah Montana fans, and, well, anyone and everyone really. I love it after a hard yoga class, and I drink it almost obsessively at work. Look what people are saying:



Well. Perhaps it's not a miracle drug, but maybe that's why I like it so much! I'm suspicious of many vitamin pills, as I'm not convinced the body digests, processes, and absorbs them efficiently -- or at all. Many nutritionists claim that the body can only absorb 10-15% of the nutrients in vitamin pills: the rest end up as expensive urine. Liquid nutrients are said to be more easily digested and absorbed, and thus more beneficial. I won't say that Emergen-C prevents or cures colds, or can replace caffeine, but I do think it's a great way to stay hydrated and add a few nutrients to your diet. There's also a few arguments out there favoring Emergen-C over Airborne, not just because of the variance in price point (Airborne is generally $7 for ten tablets; I get my 36 packets of Emergen-C for $10), but also because Airborne's excessive concentration of Vitamin A (5,000mg) could potentially put you at risk for vitamin poisoning (who knew?). I also prefer Emergen-C to other post-workout beverages, such as Gatorade, Powerade, and Crystal Light, all of which are full of sugar ("electrolytes") and pleasantries such as high-fructose corn syrup and Aspartame. At an even 25 calories per packet, I'll reach for my Emergen-C any day (and I do).

And in case there was any confusion: